Boat-mooring means



22, 1968 J. O-JALBERT 3,406,651

BOAT -MOORING MEANS Filed Jan. 12, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ENTOR mv Jase W4 0. JZ/bzr-Z" MW! Mam;

ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1968 J. o. JALBERT BOAT-MOORING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12. 1968 INVENTOR A// f/// /MEH/ dhym ATTORNEYS J. O. JALBERT BOAT-MOORING MEANS Oct. 22, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Jan. 12, 1968 N X m INVENTOR (fins 4 fi /er a ATTORNEYS Oct. 22, 1968 J. o.- JALJBERT BOAT-MOORING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 12, 1968 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,406,651 BOAT-MQORING MEANS Joseph 0. Jalhert, 401 W. Madison, Dumont, NJ. 07628 Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 660,116,

Aug. 11, 1967. This application Jan. 12, 1968, Ser.

Claims. (Cl. 114-436) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The boat mooring means of the present invention includes a novel check means which consists of at least two hollow tubes, one of which tubes is of less diameter than the other so as to snugly telescopically fit within the other hollow tube, and there is means for permitting attachment of one of the tubes relative to the other to lengthen or shorten the check means as desired. The check means further includes, at the end of one of the tubes, a hook with associated closure for opening therein, which associated closure acts automatically to close the opening in the hook when the same is attached to an eye bolt or the like that is fastened to the pilings of a wharf, dock or the like, or such eye bolt may be, of course, fastened to the wharf or dock proper. At the end of the other tube, there is an outwardly extending curved hook structure which is adapted to be hooked between two spaced apart knots in a line. There is a conventional cleat or what is known as a deck cleat adjacent the bow of the boat, and another such cleat adjacent the stern of the boat. One end of the said line is firmly attached to the cleat at both the front and back of the boat, and the other end of each line is attached in any suitable way, such as by securing about the piling as shown. The check means has its hooked end substantially midway between two knots in the line placed 1 to 3 feet from the boat, and, as aforesaid, its other end is attached by means of an eye bolt or the like to a piling or to the wharf or dock proper. The boat with the said lines and the check means thus positioned and secured will positively be prevented from engaging the pilings or the wharf, dock or the like during any kind of weather, rough seas, storms, waves of passing ships or boats, etc.

Cross-reference to related application The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Serial No. 660,116 filed Aug. 11, 1967 and now abandoned.

Background 0 the invention In prior art mooring devices for boats, there usually is provided a standard on the dock or wharf to which the boom or the like, which extends out over the water, is attached at one end and has its other end suitably attached to portions of the bow and stem of the boat. These mooring devices are rather expensive and complicated and are necessarily permanently associated with the wharf or dock; whereas in the present invention the components of the boat mooring device may be termed a kit and can be stowed on boat or dock and, therefore, readily available to be attached to any wharf or pilings whereever they may be and positively maintain the boat from engaging the pilings, wharf, dock or the like.

Summary of the invention One object of the present invention is to provide a simple and commercially feasible boat mooring device which is comprised of a minimum number of relatively ice inexpensive component parts and which includes a novel check means for lines that are attached to the bow and stern of the boat respectively, and such means being also attached to the pilings, wharf or the like, and with the other ends of the lines being well secured to a piling or whatever cleats may be available on the wharf, dock or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel check means which is comprised of telescopic tubular members adjustable to provide different lengths of the same, and a novel locking arrangement at one end of the check means for securing the same to a piling, dock or the like, in association with the lines, one end of each of which is adapted to be removably secured to the bow of the boat, and the other to the stern of the boat, and the other ends of each line being secured to the piling or dock in any desired manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel check means in the form of telescopic tubular members and means for allowing adjustment of these members for lengthening and shortening the same, and two separate lines, one end of which is adapted for attachment to the bow of the boat and the other end of the line being adapted for attachment to the stern of the boat and the free end being adapted for attachment to a piling, wharf, dock or the like, these component parts forming a kit, so to speak, which can be carried by the boat itself and allows for proper docking of the boat adjacent most any pilings, wharf, dock or the like.

These and other objects of this invention are more clearly depicted in the followin detailed description having specific reference to the attached drawings in which the embodiments of the invention are shown, not to limit the scope of the invention in any respect but so that the principles thereof might be more clearly demonstrated.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective View of the bow of a boat moored in accordance with the teachings of the preferred form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing both how and stem mooring with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevation, with a midportion being broken away, of the preferred mooring device;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken along line 77 of FIG. 3 and illustrates the freely pivoted locking member;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a modified mooring device utilizing a removable rope receiving thimble;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional fragmentary view taken along line 99 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along line l01tl of FIG. 8 illustrating the locking stud in operative position and also the clove hitch which may be used to secure the mooring line to the rope receiving thimble;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line 1111 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is an end elevational view of a modified rope receiving thimble having a key-way in the hub thereof;

FIG. 13 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12, showing the fixed locking s;

line -15 of FIG. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows; and 7 FIG. 16 is a top perspective view of an enlarged scale illustrating the means for fixing the tubes in adjusted position.

Description of the preferred embodiments means is comprised of at least two tubular sections 14 and 15. The tubular section 14 is provided with a series of aligned openings 16. The tubular section '15 is also provided with aligned openings 17 and reduced openings 17', whereby when there is relative telescopic'movement between the two tubes 14 and 15, one may select the adjustment as to the length of the over-all check means by simply inserting a bolt B having a head 18 at one end and an exteriorly threaded portion 19 at its other end and a nut 20. This bolt, as will be clearly seen in FIG. 4, extends through registered openings 17 in the outer tube with the registered openings 16 in the inner tube, and when the nut is applied to the screw threads 19, the length of the check means is definitely fixed. At the forward end of the tube 15, there is an interior plug 21 positioned interiorly of the end portion of this tube and maintained in place by set screws 22 or any other means, such as the set screws 22. The plug 21 has an opening 23 centrally thereof and into which is positioned the shank 24 which is hooked at its outer end as at 25 and is pinned in the opening by means of the pin or the like 26.

About the projecting end portion 27, there is eccentrically mounted a freely swinging keeper means 28 for automatically closing the throat T formed in the hook 25. The operation of this eccentrically mounted keeper 28 is, as seen from FIG. 3, when the hook 25 is attempted to be passed through the eye 29 of the eye bolt 30, the keeper will automatically be displaced or rocked on the portion 27 of the hook, and when the eye has been placed in the throat T, the keeper will automatically swing back and close up that throat and prevent the hook 25 from becoming accidentally displaced from the eye of the eye bolt 30. The swinging movements of the keeper 28 are shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

At the outer end of tube 14, there is inserted a plug 31 with a central opening 32 therethrough and maintained in place by set screws or other means 33. There is a hook 34 having its inner shank portion 35 disposed in the opening 32 of the plug 31 and pinned thereto at 36. The free end of the hook'34 has a portion 37 thereof, which is in substantially the same plane as the straight shank portion of the hook 35 and has the remainder thereof gradually outwardly curved upwardly at 38 and has a free end 39 and provides a central opening 40 for the reception of the line or ropeto be disposed and held therein.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 through 11, there is disclosed the same telescoped tubes 14 and 15, with the openings in the innermost tube to allow for adjustment as shown in FIG. 4, and the identical automatically swinging locking keeper 28 for the hook 25 when the hook is positioned in the eye 29 of the eye bolt 30. Extending within the end of the tube 14 is an elongated plug 41 which has aligned indentations 42 and 43 which allow for longitudinal adjustment of the plug relative to the tube 14, and set screws 44 are adapted to have their ends seated in the indentations to maintain the adjustment in fixed position. They plug may be extended from the full line position in FIG. 9 to the dotted line position 45. In the portion 46 of the plug 41 that projects outwardly beyond the end of the tube 14, there is a bore 47 that extends completely through this plug as clearly shown in FIG. 11. Positioned in the bore is a freely slid- The check means is denoted generally at C. This check ing locking pin 48 having a cylindricalportion 49, and a reduced portion 50 and a headed portion 51. A set screw 52 is "screw threaded into an opening 53 in the end 54 of the plug, and with the'inner end 52' of the set shrew being positioned so as to be in the reduced portion of the pin 48, and thus prevent this pin from slipping out of thebore 47, but allowing said pin to be freelyfloating or slidable. in the pin so'that, by gravity, thej pin will always be .intheposit ionin' the bore shown in FIG. 11.

inwardly ,of the bore and about the plug 41, there is -a hollow removable grope receiving'fthimble :55 that frictionally engages about the plug as shown in FIG S. 8,"9 and 11. This thimble has similar spaced radial grooves 56 ,therearound for receiving therein the two turns of a clove hitch 57in hemes, and these lines are, of course, the lines L an'd'L' ihFIos. 1 ide. j

p it will be seen from moss and 10pm the" sliding hr floating pin 48 is in its lowestposition and serves t'ojmaintainftheiclove hitch 57 infirm and secure relationship with the thimble 55. It will be understood that the thimble and theelongated plug 41in FIGSIS throngh ll displace the plug 32 in the hook 34in the preferred form of the invention as'jin FIGS. 1. through7 inclusive. L

In FIGS. 12 and 13, there is disclosed the elongated plug 41 andfthe grooves thimble SS and with a longitudinal 'slot 53 completely therethrough. There is afixed locking pin 59 positioned adjacent the extreme end 54 of theplug 41. In this modification, one may align the slot 58 in the thimble 55 with the pin 59, which in this instance is oval in outline-as shownat O in FIG. 12, and then slip the same thereover and turn the slot out of registry with the pin and thus the .thimble. will be in locked position, such as shown in FIG. .13.. Alternately, one may. slip the plug 41 withthe pin upright through the slot, 58 and turn the plugso that. it willbe in locked position. relation to the thimble. p With regard to FIGS. 12 and 13, it is understood that the same clove hitch as shown in FIG. 8 is placed about the thimble s5.

I It will be seen, therefore, thatwhen the boat is moored as in FIGS. 1 and. 2, the lines L and L are removably secured to the bow end oi the boat 60 and the stem end of the boat 61, respectively, 'by suitable well-known cleats or so-called ,deckcleats 60and 61, respectively, and if preferred, a guide or cleat 62 maybe used at the. bow of the boat to guide the line through the same..The check means C has the hook 34 positioned between spaced apart knots 63 and 64 and with,the automatically locked hook 25 secured in the eye 29 of the eye bolt 30 and which eye bolt is in turn screwed into a piling65 and the line L and the check means C are similarly secured by meansfof a line at the stern of the boat as shown in FIG. 2, N

Referring nowto FIGS. 14-16, a, further modified form of the invention is illustrated. The check means indicated generally by reference character C issubstantially identical with that shown in FIG. 4, the tubular sections 14 and 15 being provided withaligned openings 16 and. 17 respectively. The only difference in this form ofthe invention is the fact that all of the openings 17 provided in tubular section 15 are of substantiallythesame diameter rather than having certain ones of the openings of reducedsize as in thepreviously described modification.

A plug 21 is carried at the forward end of tube 15 as in the previously described arrangemenhthisplug sup-, porting a hook as previously described, along with a freely swinging keeper means.

The principal difierencein this form ofthe invention from that shown in FIG. 4 lies in the provision of anovel means for fixing the tubular sections in adjusted relationship with respect toone another. The means 100'includes a tubular section 102 of generallycylindrical configuration having one endportion 104 thereof flared "outwardly as seen especially in FIGS. "15 and 16; This outwardly flared'end'portion limits movement of the tubular member 102 inwardly through aligned holes in tubular sections and 14. Certain holes in tubular section 15 may be shaped complementary to the flared end 104 of tubular member 102 so that these portions will fit snugly against one another.

The opposite end portion of tubular member 102 is turned inwardly to provide an annular radially inwardly extending lip 106.

Means 100 includes a separate member 108 including an enlarged flattened head portion 110 having a plurality of separate resilient leg portions 112 extending therefrom. Each of these leg portions includes a first portion 114 flaring outwardly away from a line x-x extending through the center portion of enlarged head portion 110 and extending substantially perpendicular thereto. Each of the leg portions includes an intermediate apex portion 116, and an outer end portion 118 which extends inwardly from portion 116 toward the line x-x.

When member 108 is inserted within the associated open end of tubular member 102, it is pushed longitudinally of the tubular member. Initial movement of member 108 relative to the tubular member 102 will cause the lip 106 on member 102 to engage the outer end portions 118 of leg portions 112 inwardly toward line x-x.

After member 108 has been inserted a sufficient distance inwardly within tubular member 102, the apex portions 116 of leg portions 112 will pass lip 106, whereupon leg portions 112 will expand radially outwardly within the tubular portion 102. This serves to lock members 102 and 108 together and they will remain in such operative relationship until member 108 is forceably removed from member 102.

Means 100 is illustrated in assembled relationship in FIG. 14 wherein it is evident that means 100 will hold the tubular sections 14 and 15 in desired adjusted relationship.

The advantages of means 100 over the nut and bolt arrangement previously described are that it is easier to install and remove, is cheaper to make, and does the job as Well as, or better, than other conventional means.

Additionally, means 100 provides a finished arrangement which is substantially flush with the adjacent parts, having no protruding points or sharp edges which might cut or otherwise cause injury to persons using the device.

It will be seen, therefore, that the present boat mooring means, by means of the check means and the use of the two lines, one at the bow and the other at the stern of the boat and attached respectively, with the other ends of each line so fastened to a piling or Wharf or dock, thus prevents the boat from contacting the dock, but allows the boat to bob up and down on waves and limited movement substantially parallel with the dock. With the check means positioned with each rope, the bow rope and the stern rope, in the event of a storm and thus waves and winds involved, the check means will allow the boat to bob up and down, so to speak, and ride with the waves, but in view of the rigidity of the check means per se and their attachment to the pilings, the boat, therefore, is impossible of being thrown or dashed against the pilings. Also, the boat will be allowed to have a certain forward and backward motion due to the check means moving in their mountings, such as the eye bolts and the like, but at no time will the boat, so moored as in FIGS. 1 and 2 and under any conditions of the water, whether it be river or sea, engage the pilings or the wharf, whatever may be present.

I claim:

1. In a boat mooring device comprising elongated rigid lengthwise adjustable check means, a hook structure including a throat projecting beyond one end of the device at one end of said check means, means carried by said hook for automatically closing the throat of said hook when the same engages and is removably secured to an attaching means carried by a dock, piling or the like, another fixed hook structure extending beyond the other end of the check means allowing for positioning of the said other hook means between the ends of a line, one end of which line is adapted to be secured to the boat and the other end of the line to be secured to the dock, and the said line being in a condition whereby the boat is prevented from engaging the dock.

2. A boat mooring device as in claim 1, wherein the check means is comprised of at least two telescoped tubes each tube being provided with cooperating means for lengthwise relative movement of said tubes resulting in lengthening or shortening of the telescoped tubes to an adjusted position, means to fix the adjusted tubes, a hook fixedly positioned at one end of one of the tubes, an automatic locking keeper mounted on and adapted to swing on the hook and when the hook is in operative position close the throat of the hook, and the other said hook having an upwardly and outwardly curved free end portion thereon fixedly mounted at the end of the other tube.

3. A boat mooring device as in claim 1, wherein there are two separate similar adjustable check means, two seperate similar lines, an end of one of said lines secured to the bow end of the boat and with its other end secured to the dock, and similarly the other line having one end thereof secured to the stern of the boat and its other end to the dock, and with the first mentioned hook means attached to the dock and its other book means attached to the line between two knots.

4. A boat mooring device as in claim 1, wherein there is a plug fixed in each exposed end of each tube and each plug with an opening therethrough, the hook with the closing means for its throat fixed in the opening of one plug, and a fixed hook in the opening of the other plug.

5. A boat mooring device as in claim 1, wherein there is a plug fixed in each end of each tube and with a central opening in one plug, a hook including a throat secured in the opening, closing means mounted for automatic gravity induced movement on the hook to close the throat, and another elongated plug fixed in the end of the other tube with an end portion thereof projecting beyond the end of the tube, a through bore in the projecting portion of the plug, a pin slidingly positioned in the bore, means to prevent the plug from slipping out of the bore but allowing limited sliding gravity movement of the pin to the extent that an end portion of the pin will project beyond the bore, a thimble engaging about a portion of the extended end of the plug inwardly of the bore for positioning a clove hitch formed in the said line thereabout, and the projecting end of the pin maintaining the thimble on the plug.

6. A boat mooring device as in claim 5, wherein the thimble is provided with a slot in its inner wall and the projecting end of the plug has a fixed pin partly projecting beyond the outer surface thereof, and whereby relative movement of the pin moved in the slot and either the plug or the thimble rotated, the fixed pin will maintain the said thimble in place.

7. A boat mooring device as in claim 1, wherein the mooring device is readily adaptable of ease of installation, and of adjusting the length of same depending upon the size of the boat, and moreover the device is easily attached and removed when docking and undocking the boat.

8. A boat mooring device as defined in claim 1 wherein the check means includes at least two telescoped tubes, said tubes having spaced openings formed therethrough for receiving means to fix the tubes in adjusted relationship relative to one another thereby permitting the check means to be lengthened or shortened, said means to fix the tubes in adjusted position including a tubular member extending through the aligned openings in said tubes, and a separate member including a portion fitting within one end of said tubular member and holding the tubular member and separate member in assembled relationship.

9. A boat mooring device as defined in claim '8 wherein said tubular member includes a first end portion which tubular member to hold the tubular member and separate is flared outwardly and an opposite end portion which member in assembled relationship.

defines an annular radially inwardly extending lip.

' 10. A boat mooring device as defined in claim 9 where- References Clted in said separate member includes an enlarged head having 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS a plurality of resilient leg portions extending therefrona,v 2,550,913 5/ 1951 CoflFing 114-23O each of said leg portions including an outwardly flared ,33 1/ 26'5 C r1'i mes 114-230 portion and an inwardly tapered portionijoining at an H a I apex portion whereby said resilient leg. portions are "Exammer adapted to snap into place behind said lip formed on the 0 TRYGME M.,BLI,X, Assistant Examiner. 

